# Spin̈al Tap cranks the legal up to 11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 8, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333 "2017-02-08T16:03:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/1 "2017-02-08T16:03:46Z")
[Apparently French distribution giant Vivendi has been stiffing our boys something fierce](https://consumerist.com/2017/02/08/spinal-tap-reunites-to-take-movie-distributor-to-court-over-400m/#more-10268244). > [@](#): > > Since TIST‘s release in 1984, the film’s “enduring popularity has generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue,” the lawsuit claims, “and its associated intellectual property has substantial value.” > > But despite that success, the men contend in the lawsuit, Vivendi said the four creators’ share of total worldwide merchandising income between 1984 and 2013 was just $81. And between 1989 and 2013, total income from music sales was purportedly just $98. The lawsuit claims that Vivendi has failed to provide accounting statements at all over the past three years. Not only that, the company abandoned the trademarks for the group back in 2011, yet still demands a payment from the group if they try to use the same trademarks. The article ends with > [@](#): > > The complaint makes no mention of seeking any compensation for the estates of late Tap drummers like John “Stumpy” Pepys, Eric “Stumpy Joe” Childs, Peter “James” Bond, Mick Shrimpton, Joe “Mama” Besser, Richard “Ric” Shrimpton, Sammy “Stumpy” Bateman, Scott “Skippy” Scuffleton, or Chris “Poppa” Cadeau. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/2 "2017-02-08T16:44:53Z")
You missed the truly astonishing part: > [@](#): > > But despite that success, the men contend in the lawsuit, Vivendi said the four creators’ share of total worldwide merchandising income between 1984 and 2013 was just **$81**. And between 1989 and 2013, total income from music sales was purportedly just $98. The lawsuit claims that Vivendi has failed to provide accounting statements at all over the past three years $81. What the hell? My fondest hope is that Shearer and Reiner can use their tremendous wealth to finally tear open the box labeled “Hollywood Accounting.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/3 "2017-02-08T16:48:42Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > You missed the truly astonishing part: > $81. What the hell? Didn’t miss it, but we’re not supposed to quote too much of any one article so I left some for others. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/4 "2017-02-08T17:03:42Z")
Did they really deserve more than $81, though? The musical growth of this band cannot even be charted. They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/5 "2017-02-08T17:23:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The article ends with > > > [@](#): > > > > The complaint makes no mention of seeking any compensation for the estates of late Tap drummers like John “Stumpy” Pepys, Eric “Stumpy Joe” Childs, Peter “James” Bond, Mick Shrimpton, Joe “Mama” Besser, Richard “Ric” Shrimpton, Sammy “Stumpy” Bateman, Scott “Skippy” Scuffleton, or Chris “Poppa” Cadeau. > > > > 😃 That Joe Besser sounds like a real stooge. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/6 "2017-02-08T17:34:42Z")
Is Spinal Tap still producing music? I really haven’t paid much attention to them since Shit Sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/7 "2017-02-08T18:59:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Apparently French distribution giant Vivendi has been stiffing our boys something fierce](https://consumerist.com/2017/02/08/spinal-tap-reunites-to-take-movie-distributor-to-court-over-400m/#more-10268244). > Not only that, the company abandoned the trademarks for the group back in 2011, yet still demands a payment from the group if they try to use the same trademarks. > > The article ends with 😃 Well, that’s just nitpicking, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/8 "2017-02-08T19:08:46Z")
Look, Nigel signed a contract that said 81 dollars. Now, whether or not he knows the difference between ones and thousands is not their problem. They do what they’re told. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/9 "2017-02-08T19:37:44Z")
Really, I’d love to discuss this with you, but I’ve got to go down to the lobby and wait for the limo. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/10 "2017-02-08T19:42:25Z")
This article is filled with perspective. Too much fucking perspective, I’d say. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/11 "2017-02-08T20:56:46Z")
I’d say Vivendi needs a visit by someone holding a cricket bat. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/12 "2017-02-08T21:04:36Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Look, Nigel signed a contract that said 81 dollars. Now, whether or not he knows the difference between ones and thousands is not their problem. They do what they’re told. Well, he’s the one who marked down the measurements for a Stonehenge model as 18" when he really meant 18’. Are you really gonna trust him to understand a contract? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/13 "2017-02-08T21:07:54Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > You missed the truly astonishing part: > > $81. What the hell? > > My fondest hope is that Shearer and Reiner can use their tremendous wealth to finally tear open the box labeled “Hollywood Accounting.” Always get a percentage of the gross–never of the net. There is no net. (Correction: apparently there’s $81. Surprising!) ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/14 "2017-02-08T21:21:42Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Did they really deserve more than $81, though? The musical growth of this band cannot even be charted. They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry. They need the money to pay for the Stonehenge set that is over 12" tall! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/15 "2017-02-08T21:55:49Z")
This is [old news](http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2016/10/24/430291.htm), sort of. It was discussed here previously when the initial legal stuff started happening. What seems to have changed is that more Spinal Tap related folk have joined in and the damages sought have increased. I think there’s still some more room to crank it up. So, not at 11 yet. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/16 "2017-02-09T04:10:19Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Is Spinal Tap still producing music? I really haven’t paid much attention to them since Shit Sandwich. That’s when they jumped the shark. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/17 "2017-02-09T05:01:22Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I think there’s still some more room to crank it up. So, not at 11 yet. It needs that push…over the cliff. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/18 "2017-02-09T17:56:55Z")
I remember being knocked out by their exuberance, their raw power - and their punctuality. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/19 "2017-02-09T19:13:23Z")
You should have seen the contract they WANTED to sign! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333/20 "2017-02-09T19:35:39Z")
Good thing they were picking up all that residual money from\* Listen (To the Flower People)\*. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spin-al-tap-cranks-the-legal-up-to-11/779333.md?page=2)